A year after their messy divorce from longtime quarterback Brett Favre, it's no surprise the Green Bay Packers are making more changes. The Pack allowed 23.8 points a game last season. Clearly not great, but not an inordinate amount, either.

Although Tom Cable is aware of the stiff challenges he is assuming by staying with the Oakland Raiders, their no-longer-interim coach only sees the opportunities. Owner Al Davis formally introduced Cable as his fifth head coach since 2003 on Wednesday in a news conference lacking the theatric vitriol of last year's rare public appearance by Davis, when he promoted Cable and fired Lane Kiffin four weeks into the season.

The Green Bay Packers' season came apart thanks in large part to a defense that consistently blew fourth-quarter leads. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and most of his staff were let go Monday as a result. Packers coach Mike McCarthy released six assistants, including five on defense: Sanders, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer and nickel package/cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington.

One day after watching their already-suspect run defense get gashed by Adrian Peterson, the Green Bay Packers found out Monday that they now must face life without middle linebacker Nick BarnettBarnett is out for the season after tearing a right knee ligament in Sunday's loss at Minnesota, leaving Packers coaches scrambling to find a suitable replacement for one of the team's defensive leaders.

Rick Neuheisel was promoted to offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, although coach Brian Billick said he will continue to call the plays next season. Elsewhere, Carolina fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and two other assistants Monday, two weeks after finishing a disappointing 8-8 season, and Green Bat promoted Joe Philbin to replace Jeff Jagodzinski as offensive coordinator.